I
became Greece Baptist Church's Senior Pastor in the summer of
2007 after serving American Baptist Churches in Massachusetts
for 20 years. It was a kind of "homecoming" for me.
I was born in Canandaigua, NY in 1956, graduated from Bloomfield
Central School, did my undergraduate work at Stanford University,
and earned my M.Div. degree at Princeton.

I
have lived on both coasts and in Europe but chose to return to
my home here in the Rochester area. I'm excited to be here to
help shepherd Greece Baptist Church into the 21st Century. This
is a great place to live. Folks are down-to-earth and caring.
We've been through some tough times economically, but we have
a strong bond of faith and are looking ahead to a bright future.

I
see my role as pastor being primarily to encourage my members: encouraging
them to grow spiritually in their individual faith journeys and to grow
together as we share our experience of God's love in Jesus Christ. Through
my preaching, teaching, and counseling, I try to help people understand
the scriptures, learn to think and talk about their faith, and apply
those understandings to their daily lives. The German theologian Karl
Barth once said that a good preacher should hold the Bible in one hand
and today's newspaper in the other. With that in mind, I try to read
the scriptures through the eyes of current events and experiences.

I
try hard to focus on what is really important. When Jesus was asked
what was the most important thing, he said it was to love God and to
love our neighbors. All too often people of faith get bogged down in
disputes and fights about points of doctrine, interpretations of scripture,
or particular social causes, and forget that while we may have disagreements,
we are called to love each other and be united in the love of God. I
believe we need to listen to each other, to be tolerant and loving towards
those who disagree with us, and to strive to follow Christ's teaching
and example in all we do.

If you are looking for a huge church where everyone is told to think
the same way, Greece Baptist Church is simply not it. But if you are
looking for a church that is big enough to make a difference-but still
small enough to be a family-we might just be what you are looking for.
We are a community of faith where you can feel free to ask questions
and find your way without being shamed or guilt-tripped. We are proud
of our heritage and traditions but are not bound by them. We are a church
family that is committed to following Jesus Christ in a society that
is moving into this post-modern age with all its challenges, complexities,
and marvelous opportunities.